Customer Reviews

Solo: Live in New York

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

If you're wandering the wilderness looking for the real great piano album, Congratulation! Your journey has finally ended! And you know what? It is REWARDED only sweetly! You'll feel the absolute power and technique of the one great pianist. However, the really great thing is, you can feel his lyricism at the same time! p.s. The greatest album I'd ever seen before this one was Keith Jarrett's Koln Concert. And now I dare to say Chucho is more than Keith. Sorry, Mr.Jarrett....But that's the truth, I can't help it.

I must agree with the unfortunately unsigned message from "A music fan" called "Chill out, Chucho". I do not like anonymus...
I gave him a 5 star because he has big hands, play great,extend himself to new sounds and arrangements, and he's Bebo's son; but he abuses and leaves the tune behind to perform his extravagances. Definitely, that's his style. But the tune takes 25% of the performance, the rest is Chucho's descargas; with percussion it will have less monotony.
Listen to his father Bebo, and you'll have small descargas but the purity and integrity of the melody remains more.

If you're wandering the wilderness looking for the real great piano album, Congratulation! Your journey has finally ended! And you know what? It is REWARDED only sweetly! You'll feel the absolute power and technique of the one great pianist. However, the really great thing is, you can feel his lyricism at the same time! p.s. The greatest album I'd ever seen before this one was Keith Jarrett's Koln Concert. And now I dare to say Chucho is more than Keith. Sorry, Mr.Jarrett....But that's the truth, I can't help it.

I'm a newcomer to Chucho Valdes, having discovered him first through an NPR interview, the 'Live At The Village Vanguard' album, and then a chance to see him live. His sheer technical ability at the piano is astounding, and this concert presents him in a solo setting that presents that talent perfectly. The best way to enjoy Chucho might be with a full band (particularly the percussion!) but this music is terrific. He takes his influences -- Bud Powell, McCoy Tyner, Bill Evans, Oscar Peterson -- and weaves it all together with a latin sensibility to achieve a truly wonderful blend of tradition and innovation. Check this guy out, you won't regret it.

I bought this album because he was part of a great latin jazz ensemble and I felt like some good music. Boy was I wrong! This album is full of rambling through the keys, jumping off the melody to perform excentricities, to then come back to a tired song.

It is exasperating having to wait for him to finish his showing so you can listen to the music. I bought it based on the sample bit and my gosh can he play with emotion but after he gets bored with what is in the sheet he just leaves you hanging
to go play.

He literally decomposes the music to then bring it back together. It is dissapointing.

Chucho demonstrates his magnificent talent on ivory thoughout the entire album. Unfortuantely, much of it is in mellow form. But "A mi madre" is easily the most FUN track, livening up the album. Good thing it's first.

I say "Deux" because my review of his album "Solo Piano" would apply to this album as well. There is none of the haunting lyricism which he displayed in "Claudia" with Arturo Sandoval. There is none of the genuine Cuban beauty as in "Cenizas" with Omara Portuondo. There was plenty of running up and down the keyboard with lots of "brujo" and "flash" Good for the tourist trade, but hardly memorable.

Half brilliance, half wankfest. I just wish they he wouldn't mix the two on every track. Unfortunately he chooses to display his monster chops in a very unmusical way that detracts from the MUSIC. You can almost hear the audience wishing he would stop abusing the piano and continue with the tune. But the rest is just fantastic. I'd love to hear him play a set without all the fireworks, it's unbecoming. Tatum was positively restrained in comparison.